Nativebeads' Giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by Nativebeads. Make sure to check out her feature right here on this blog, just click here!

The prize is terrific, and so much fun! Theresa from Nativebeads is giving away a a kit to make a gourd doll. Here is how she describes it:This is a bead kit that teaches you how to add horizontal bead netting to embellish a gourd doll. The kits includes step by step instructions, illustrations, a painted gourd doll, beads, needle and thread. It also includes instructions on how to make a beaded basket that is glued onto the top of the doll head when you are finished with her beaded skirt. The kit contains all the materials in a ziplock baggie. The photo shows the finished doll. The kits normally sells for $10 in my shop.





Entering is easy. Visit Theresa's shop Nativebeads, then come back here and leave a comment with a link your favorite item from her shop!

Earn Bonus Entries!
*Earn 5 bonus entries: Make a purchase from Nativebeads. Come back here and leave a comment with the link to your transaction. Please tell her in check out that Raevyn sent you :D

*Earn 1 bonus entry: Sign up for my newsletter and come back here and leave a comment that you signed up. If you have already signed up for it, just leave a comment here letting me know and you will get the bonus entry.

*Earn 1 bonus entry: Follow this blog! Leave a post here letting me know you are a follower.

*Earn 2 bonus entries: Blog about this giveaway! Then come back here and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.

Please make sure to leave a way to contact you on your entries. If I can't contact you, you can't win! This contest is open to everyone, you do not have to be in the US to enter. October 6th will be the last day to enter, and I will draw the winner on October 7th.

Etsy Featured Artist - Nativebeads

When I first became active with the Trade-A-Holics, I was lucky enough to meet Theresa, the owner of Nativebeads. When I first looked at her shop, I recognized right away that this is a beader after my own heart. Her work with seed beads, and her native style, is the kind of thing that attracted me to beading. And then I saw that she wrote the book on beads - literally! Not only is she amazingly talented, but she is a published author on the subject of beading! I am lucky enough to own two of her books, and I love them! The Illustrated Bead Bible is my favorite. I am a completely self taught beader, and this book has gone a long way in educating me about beads, materials, and techniques.


Her bead work is also quite amazing. Her love for her craft shows through in everything she does. If you love beads, you are going to love her! Her work is diverse and never boring! Take a look at her shop, and if you are looking for beading books, you will not go wrong with hers.





Theresa took time to answer a few of my pesky questions recently. Here is what she had to say:

Name: Theresa Flores Geary
Age (if you don't mind): 58
Where do you live? Moriarty, New Mexico

How did you get started working with beads? My dear mother invited me to a bead class with her “old lady” friends when I was 14. I was surprised to be included in such a group and had NO IDEA how much fun she was having. I got hooked immediately. Now I hang out with MY “old lady friends” who act a lot like teenagers.

What inspires you most?
My friends and other artists are so inspirational when they share their artwork and techniques, where they get their supplies, information on sales opportunities, etc. We teach each other new techniques. The social aspects like laughter and sharing make the pursuit of artwork even more delightful. I spent way too many years as a solitary beader, all by myself into the wee hours of night.

What do you do in your spare time?
Well, I grow gourds, vegetables, fruit trees and chickens for eggs. I have two cats and two dogs as well. My kids are grown and living independently so my husband and I share a quiet life in the country with our animal friends.

Tell us a little known fact about you.
I am a retired clinical psychologist. My career was very rewarding and interesting but I am so happy to be doing what I am doing now – much less stress too!

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am finishing up an order for a bead store that is doing a display for Day of the Dead or Dia De Los Muertos. It is a fascinating Hispanic and Native cultural celebration to honor people’s deceased relatives. The folk art that has developed along with the ceremony is delightful in its own right. Part of the tradition is to make arts and crafts to leave as an offering on an altar or at the gravesite of their loved ones. The five senses are emphasized to help guide their ancestors to join the celebration. As such, there is music, colorful flowers like marigolds and roses, rattles or noise makers, food, costumes, jewelry and various arts. Our family did not celebrate this particular ceremony but now that I am older, I find it intriguing. Etsy has it listed as one of its most popular holidays. Do a search to see a huge variety of artwork mediums.

Do you sell anywhere besides Etsy?
Yes.
Where?
I have my own website www.beadbible.com. I also do occasional shows, maybe 1-3 a year, plus have a few local connections like a farmer’s market and bead stores where I sell my beadwork, bead kits, books, dried gourds and gourd art.

I see that you are a published author! What books have you written, and where can people purchase them?
The first two books are project books, mainly emphasizing Native American beadwork. The books include information on cultural traditions and symbolism used with designs, colors and ceremonies. The first book is called Native American Beadwork – Projects and Techniques of the Southwest.
The second book is called Creative Native Beading. They both categorize projects according to skill level, such as beginner, intermediate and advanced. The third book, published just this year is called Illustrated Bead Bible – terms, tips and techniques. It is more of a reference book on everything you ever wanted to know about beads including gemstones. It has over 500 color photographs to help you learn bead names, stitches and bead types plus reference charts on things like needle size, bead size and threads. It was designed to help people learn about many facets of beading, including how beads are made, different cultural and historical information and samples of beadwork from around the world. I carry my own books to sell on Etsy but run out from time to time. They are also generally available in many fine bookstores, museums and gift shops throughout the world and online, such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

You have several types of bead art that you do. From gourds to jewelry...what is your favorite thing to do with beads?
Since I was intrigued with beads at a young age, I first learned how to make jewelry and after so many years of that, I wanted to branch out to discover different uses of beads and different types of techniques. So now, the challenge is to continue discovering all the ways to use beads in a variety of projects besides jewelry, which is why I started doing beadwork on gourds. I still make jewelry too because it is simply delightful to handle so many beautiful beads and gemstones.


Do you twitter, flickr, facebook, blog..or anything else where people can follow you? Please feel free to list all of you "social networking" addresses.
I am on Face book and
http://tradeaholics.ning.com/ , a social networking site for artists who enjoying trading with each other. I just joined this site: http://busymitts.com which is a group of crafters, many of whom are from the UK and Ireland. My profile name is NativeBeads. It is more of a place for “Show and Tell” rather than a market place.
I do NOT do twitter or blog seriously, although I do have a blog with Amazon.com. People can reach me there by searching under my name (Theresa Flores Geary) and leave comments. However, I seriously do not have the time to sit in front of the computer all day. I have chickens and veggies and gourds to tend to!!!

Winner of jerseymaid's Giveaway!

And that's it, jerseymaids great giveaway is over! And the winner is.....
Heather!!!!

Congratulations! And thank you to everyone that entered. I will be continuing with my series of Etsy featured articles followed by a great giveaway later on today, so check back!

jerseymaid's Giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by jerseymaids. Make sure to check out her feature right here on this blog, just click here!

The prize is awesome! It is an Interchangeable Polaroid Ring from jerseymaids. You can choose your ring from the rings she has available at her shop.


Details:
Typically sold for: $30

*A lead and nickel-free adjustable ring base (approx. 6 1/2 - 8 US sizes) available in silver plated, gunmetal black, or antiqued bronze
*5 interchangeable glass Polaroid snap-on charms (shown in the first 2 photographs.) These are interchangeable by a magnetic mechanism using Earth Magnets, some of the strongest magnets known to man. And perfect for jewelry!

Each charm measures approximately 5/8" x 3/4" (17mm x 19mm). Though they are sealed with many coats of waterproof sealant, I would still try to avoid submerging these rings in water (i.e. washing dishes, showering, swimming, etc.)

Entering is easy. Visit Lauren's shop, then come back here and leave a comment with a link your favorite item from her shop!

Earn Bonus Entries!
*Earn 3 bonus entries: Make a purchase from jerseymaids. Come back here and leave a comment with the link to your transaction. Please tell her in check out that Raevyn sent you :D

*Earn 1 bonus entry: Sign up for my newsletter and come back here and leave a comment that you signed up. If you have already signed up for it, just leave a comment here letting me know and you will get the bonus entry.

*Earn 1 bonus entry: Follow this blog! Leave a post here letting me know you are a follower.

*Earn 2 bonus entries: Blog about this giveaway! Then come back here and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.

Please make sure to leave a way to contact you on your entries. If I can't contact you, you can't win! This contest is open to everyone, you do not have to be in the US to enter. September 21st will be the last day to enter, and I will draw the winner on September 22nd.

Etsy Featured Artist - jerseymaids

I love photography. Both taking pictures and looking at pictures. At a very young age I fell in love with snapping my own shots, and in high school I took a few photography classes where I developed my love even further. And as long as I can remember I have loved looking at photographs. I love seeing an artist's point of view through their pictures, but I also love just looking through family photo albums and seeing the moments of people's lives captured.

Today's featured artist is a shining example of all that I love about photography. It is jerseymaids. She is a Polaroid photographer that I met during my travels on Etsy. To be sure, her work is passionate. Her absolute love for her medium comes through in all of her pieces. Here is one of my favorites:

Cherry Blossoms Polaroid

Her subject matter is extensive! I encourage you all to click on over to jerseymaids and take a look.

Besides her amazing prints, Lauren also has several other ways to show off her passion for Polaroids. She has Totes and Shirts, Polaroid Night Lights, Polaroid Jewelry, and Cards.

Not only is Lauren's work beautiful, but she is a really wonderful person. She goes out of her way to make her customers happy and she is very easy to contact and talk to. When I decided to do this feature on her, she was nice enough to take the time to answer a few questions for me.

Name: Lauren Beacham
Age (if you don't mind): 23
Where do you live?: Shepherdstown, WV but soon to be Frederick, MD

How did you get started with photography?
I started off in high school somewhat by accident. A teacher of mine had been a photo journalist at a Baltimore newspaper and had secretly created a makeshift darkroom in the back closet of her classroom. She pulled me aside one day and asked if I wanted to learn how to develop black and white photographs. I immediately fell in love and spent every spare second I had in that teeny dark little room with expired papers, chemicals, and really bad negatives. But the magic of it all was completely addictive, so I went on to study it more thoroughly in college. I got my degree in Photography and Computer Imaging and, also by somewhat of a happy accident, was introduced to the delight of alternative processes (particularly Polaroids.) I haven't looked back since and have been working almost exclusively in Polaroids and other alternative processes since 2007.

You use Polaroids, why did you choose that particular medium?
Polaroid has a magic to it that really is unmatched by anything I've experienced. It paints with light and romance, and it wraps up heightened anticipation and instant gratification into one little package. The colors and glow aren't found anywhere else, and no matter how well you know your film and camera...you are never in complete control. It's always a big adventure.

What inspires you most?
Moments. People and places, music, nature, romance. Color. Light.

What do you do in your spare time?
What spare time?! Haha. I spend most of my time that isn't at work (I'm an art gallery director in Frederick) creating new things, working on jewelry and expanding my artwork, networking with other Etsians and Polaroid fanatics, and sometimes I'll be able to squeeze in some down time with my guy and our Scottish terrier pup.

Tell us a little known fact about you.
I have a strange fascination with hot air balloons (to the extent that one is permanently etched onto my wrist) but have a horrible fear of heights and have never taken a ride in one...nor do I ever plan to.

Do you have a favorite subject to photograph?
Though most of my photographs are done of flowers and nature, I really love photographing people. Absolutely love it.

Do you sell anywhere besides Etsy? Where?
I sell in a number of galleries and shops and have also taken a try at shophandmade.com I only made one sale and felt it wasn't worth my while for now. You'll also find me at various craft shows, and hopefully more shops to come! But for now, Etsy is my number one home.


What advice do you have for anyone that would like to start selling their own
photography?
Well firstly, don't give up. There are TONS of photographers out there trying to make their way. Secondly, shoot what you absolutely love. People can tell if you're shooting to make money or if you're doing something you adore. Passion needs to run everything you do. And thirdly, do something different. Separate yourself from the norm! Don't be afraid to jump into the unknown because you never know what you'll find...and it may hold the answers you're looking for.

Do you twitter, flickr, facebook, blog..or anything else where people can follow you?
Please feel free to list all of you "social networking" addresses.
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jerseymaids
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/jerseymaids/77302554915
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerseymaids
blog: http://jerseymaids.livejournal.com
website (under construction): http://www.laurenbeacham.com

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Make sure to enter the newest giveaway, featuring jerseymaids. Just click here!

Winner of thegirlyplace's Giveaway!

Well the results are in! Thank you too all of those that entered. The winner of a $5 gift certificate from thegirlyplace is ShoreDebris! Congratulations!!!

I have a new featured artist and a new giveaway going up today, so stay tuned!

thegirlyplace promo and Giveaway!

This giveaway is sponsored by the fantastic artist, Joanie Reeder of thegirlyplace, ruascrapper, and *coming soon* tailsnsnails.

Get a free $5 gift certificate to use in any of Joanie's shops thegirlyplace, ruascrapper, tailsnsnails.

Entering is easy. Visit both of Joanie's open shops, then come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item from each shop. If you comment on 1 shop, you get 1 entry. If you comment on both shops, you will get two entries.

Earn Bonus Entries!
*Earn 1 bonus entry: Sign up for my newsletter. If you have already signed up for it, just leave a comment here letting me know and you will get the bonus entry.

*Earn 1 bonus entry: Follow this blog! Leave a post here letting me know you are a follower.

*Earn 2 bonus entries: Blog about this giveaway! Then come back here and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.

*Earn 3 bonus entries: Make a purchase from thegirlyplace and/or ruascrapper. Come back here and leave a comment with the link to your transaction. Please tell her in check out that Raevyn sent you :D And make sure to check out the two amazing deals that Joanie is offering, they are listed at the end of this post!

This contest is open to everyone, you do not have to be in the US to enter. September 7th will be the last day to enter, and I will draw the winner on September 8th.

Don't miss out on these amazing deals!!
During this contest, Joanie will be running a special promo!
* Buy a Fluff N Stuff tutu from thegirlyplace and receive a FREE matching teddy bear tutu. No need to purchase the teddy bear tutu. Just put "RaevynBlogTBT" in message to seller.



* Buy a premade scrapbook from ruascrapper and receive a set of mini notes (great for lunch boxes, thank yous and more) FREE. No need to purchase mini card listing. Just enter "RaevynBlogRUAS" in message to seller and let me know which set you would like.

Etsy Featured Artist - thegirlyplace

A few months ago I found out that my cousin was adopting to little girls that were sisters. We live very far away from each other; she is in Alaska and I am in Texas. But I wanted to be able to welcome these two angels into our family, so I set out to gather a box of Etsy goodies to send on up to Alaska. This is how I came across Joanie Reeder and her amazing shop thegirlyplace. I immediately feel in love with her huge selection of bows, headbands and korkers for little girls. Ever since then, every box of goodies that I have sent up to Alaska has featured goodies from this darling shop. In the short time that I have known Joanie, she has expanded her shop quite a bit. She now has crayon keepers, hair goodies for all ages, jewelry and the most adorable tutus!

Red and white Christmas bow

Fun frenzy butterfly haircomb facinator

Flower crayon keeper

Recently Joanie opened a second shop dedicated to scrapbooking and other paper crafts.

Premade Scrapbook Pages

And Joanie will be opening her third shop on September 15th! tailsnsnails will be a shop catering to little boys!

Although Joanie keeps herself very busy with three etsy shops and her family, she took the time to answer a few questions for me.

Name: Joanie Reeder
Age (if you don't mind): 30
Where do you live?: North Carolina

Well it looks like you are busy with 3 Etsy shops these days! Do you have a favorite?
My mothership, thegirlyplace, is my favorite because it's my first, but I really do love all three. My boy's shop, tailsnsnails, is opening Sept. 15 with treasures for all little boys.

When you are able to sit down and craft just for fun, what do you make?
Bows. I really enjoy making bows and I've got plenty of outfits for my baby girl that need matching bows. I sometimes don't get a chance to make her bows because I'm busy making them for everyone else.

What inspires you most?
My kids. They are the reasons I opened my boy and girl shop.

What do you do in your spare time (if you have any of course lol)?
If I'm not making something? Sleep, eat, veg out in front of the TV. Really, it's not that interesting.

Tell us a little known fact about you.
I have nine brothers and sisters. There are 10 of us in my family.

What are you working on now?
Building up inventory in my scrapbooking shop, ruascrapper and in my boy's shop ((author's note: tailsnsnails).

Do you sell anywhere besides Etsy? Where? Not really. I've got my first big craft fair coming up in October. I'm excited about that, and nervous too.

Do you have any advice for people that want to start selling their handmade goods?
Look before you leap. Prepare your inventory, get an idea of what people want, write descriptive listings and don't overprice your stuff, but don't sell yourself short either! Great pictures are obviously a plus.

Do you think it is important to shop and buy handmade? If so, why?
Absolutely. Someone sat down and crafted something unique for you. Even if it's something that gets relisted, chances are no one you ever meet will have the exact same product you got. That's the beauty of handmade.

Do you twitter, flickr, facebook, blog..or anything else where people can follow you?
Please feel free to list all of you "social networking" addresses.
Yes. My addresses are:
www.twitter.com/joaniereeder
http://companies.to/thegirlyplace/
I almost don't want to tell you though, because I've been a bit slack about updating them thanks to busy with the kids, busy with crafting and busy with life in general!

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I can honestly say that I highly recommend shopping with Joanie. Her items are very high quality and she is a very friendly person to work with. Make sure to keep an eye on this blog for a contest featuring Joanie!